Tubular carrier



March 13, 1956 E. G. JOHNSON 2,738,121

TUBULAR CARRIER Filed June 18, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l vgron March 13, 1956 E. G. JOHNSON 2,738,121

TUBULAR CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 18. 1948 United States Patent TUBULAR CARRIER Ervin G. Johnson, Eureka, Califi; Eleanor De Haas Johnson, executrix of the estate of said Ervin G. Johnson, deceased Application June 18, 1948, Serial No. 33,735

6 Claims. (Cl. 229-93) This invention relates to envelopes, particularly such as consist of a solid or a tubular core and of a tongue fastened to the exterior surface of the core, between which core and tongue, an enveloped thing, as a manuscript or the like, is wrapped and enveloped.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide devices which form a fixed and permanent part of the envelope and which are effective to close over the end convolutions of the envelope tongue irrespective of the diameter of the envelope when it has enveloped its contents; and which are usable or not as one chooses. These functions find their counterparts in a standard flat envelope, wherein the gumrned flap constitutes a means for securing various numbers of sheets of paper, and can itself be tucked inside the envelope recess if it is desired to use the envelope Without seal.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent in the following specification wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the envelope showing the convolutions of the tongue sealed at the ends;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the envelope, partially opened and showing the end sealing device in unused position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary isometric view to show the relation of the tongue and the sealing evice when the tongue is fully extended preparatory to inserting contents for use as in Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary isometric view to show the relation of the tongue and sealing device when the tongue is fully extended and the sealing device is broken out, preparatory to use of the envelope as shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the principal component of the end sealing device;

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the component of Fig. 5 as reformed preparatory to assembly of it with other parts; and

Fig. 7 is illustrative of a step in the method of assembling the envelopes component parts.

Referring now to the drawings, the envelope is formed of a rigid tube I a generally flexible trapezoidal tongue 12, and two end-sealing devices 14. The tube It) is preferably made of paper, or it may be replaced by a solid right cylindrical wooden core.

The tongue 12 has one edge (base edge) 12:: perpendicular to the adjacent parallel edges 12b and 120. The remaining edge (free edge) 12d is straight but not perpendicular to edges 12b and 12c. The distance between edges 12b and 1.20 is substantially less than the axial length of tube lit).

The tongue is gummed along base edge 12a and free edge 12d in the regions 12@ and 12 on the same face of the sheet. The edge 12a is secured in a position parallel to the axis of tube 10 by gummed portion 12e as shown, to leave exposed tube end portions ltla at each end of the tube.

The sealing elements 14 are identical and are die-cut from fiat rectangular paper to rectangular outline as shown in Fig. 5. A series of parallel slits 14a of equal length extend throughout a region between ends 14b and 'ice Me of element 14. Slits 14a terminate along common lines adjacent and parallel to ends 141) and 14c, as shown in Fig. 5. The length of element 14 along edges 14b and 14c is equal to the outer circumference of tube 10. One surface 14d of element 14 is entirely gummed so that it becomes adherent when moistened.

As shown in Fig. 5 the sealing element may be more precisely described as comprising a relatively wide base band portion constituting a tube end attachment band portion of rectangular shape in the plane of the web extending between the edge 14c and the adjoining ends 14 of strip forming slits 14a, and as further comprising a slitted strip forming portion also of generally rectangular shape in the plane of the web bounding the ends of the slits and the lateral sides of the sealing element and edge terminal strips and adjoining the base portion and terminating at an opposite line coinciding with the ends of the slits, and a very narrow breakable rectangular band portion extending parallel to the base portion in the plane of the web adjoining and extending between the edge 1% and the other ends of the slits. This narrow breakable band is so narrow that it is easily broken through across its width at and in extension of the slits to cause the narrow band to become parts of the various strips. As shown in the drawing, the base band portion and the breakable band portion are respectively broader and much narrower than the strips 14, though this is not an essential feature of construction.

In manufacture the element 14 is reformed to cylindrical shape as shown in Fig. 6, its inside diameter forming a slip-on lit with tube 10, and being fastened in the shape of Fig. 6 by a suitable temporary sticker 14:2. The tubular element 14 is next forced, with edge 14b foremost, onto the end of tube It) until stopped against edge 12b of the tongue. The slit 14a opposite the point of stoppage is broken out, and the element 14 is further forced onto tube 10 until stopped with the bottom 14f (Fig. 7) of that slit 14a engaging edge 12/).

A region 105, illustrated shaded in Fig. 7, of tube 10, is

. now moistened and the tubular element 1 is next withdrawn to cover that moistened region whereupon element 14 becomes adherent to the tube ill over this region 1% only. It is evident that the base portion of tube 14 need not be bonded to the region Kill), for this step may be carried out at any time, or omitted if it is desired to omit the use of the sealing device at a later time.

The elements 14 being so fixed, the tongue 12 is fully wrapped around the tube in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2, the elements 14 being protected from damage. Any suitable device may be employed to maintain the tongue 12?. rolled upon the tube pending use of the envelope. For example, one of the strips 14; only, as shown in Figure 1, may be broken out for this purpose, leaving the remainder of strips 14g of elements 14 in the protected position of Fig. 2.

The exact form of the envelope as received by the user has not been illustrated by drawing, since Fig. 2, with the last sentence of the next preceding paragraph adequately describes the exact form as completed in manufacture.

To use the envelope as illustrated in Fi 2 with the end sealing element 14 inactive, the tongue is extended to Fig. 3 condition. One edge of contents 20 is inserted in the V at 22 in Fig. 3 formed between the tube 10 and the tongue 12.. Then the tongue and contents are rolled up as illustrated in Fig. 2. A closure is effected along edge 12d by merely moistening region 12 and pressing it against the adjacent convolution of the tongue as in Fig. 1.

To use the envelope as illustrated in Fig. l, with the end sealing element 14 active, the tongue is unwrapped to the Fig. 3 position as before. The slits 14a are all broken out through edge 14!), the resulting strips 14g being bent at their bases to extend outward over the ends of the tube as shown in Fig. 4, and with their gummed surfaces exposed outwardly. Rubber bands may be slipped over the extended strips to maintain the approximate position of Fig. 4.

The contents 20 are now inserted between the tube 11) and tongue 12 as before, the wrapping around performed and the gumming effected as at 12d, Fig. 1. The gum strips 14g are next moistened and the strips attached to the outer convolution of the tongue as shown in Fig. 1.

The end-seal has been particularly shown with the edge 14c displaced from the end of tube 10 so that the end area of the tube at 10a and the adjacent end area 14 of the element 14 may together receive the rubber stamp post ofiice ofiicial seal. All edges which form a. closure, should, for purposes of post-ofiice registration of mail,

be so placed that a post-ofiice imprint can be made over the two parts of the envelope forming the joint or closure. In sealing this envelope the sealing imprint is placed over edge 14c and also over the ends of the strips 14g and the edge 12d.

I claim:

1. An envelope comprising, in combination: a cylin drical core; a flexible sheet tongue member having one edge secured to said core and having two edges adjoining the one edge; and a sealing device for covering each of the said adjoining edges after the tongue has been wrapped around said core, said sealing device comprising a sheet element having an adhesive coated surface and providing a base portion and a series of strips extending from the base portion, the base portion being secured to the end of the core and the strips being confined between the tongue and the core in tubular array about the core, said strips being foldable upon the base portion between the core end and the said edges of the tongue to extend outwardly in the direction of and beyond the core end.

2. An envelope comprising, in combination: a straight rigid core member, a tongue of sheet material having two straight parallel edges, the distance between the parallel edges being substantially less than the length of the core, and means fixedly securing the tongue to the core so that the tongue may be tightly Wrapped about the core with each edge confined in substantially one plane perpendic ular t0 the core axis between the ends of the core so as to leave external portions of the core exposed between its ends and the edges of the wrapper; and a sealing device comprising a tubular member of thin flexible web material having an interior adhesive coated surface and an interior cross sectional opening to fit snugly over the ends of the core, said tubular member having a continuous base ring portion forming one end thereof secured to the exposed core end and the member further including a series of axially disposed parallel strips separated by slits extending from the base portion toward the other end of the sealing device, said tubular member including a continuous strip of the web material extending around the perimeter of the member forming the said other end thereof.

3. An envelope comprising, in combination: a straight rigid core member, a tongue of sheet material having two straight parallel edges, the distance between the parallel edges being substantially less than the length of the core, and means securing the tongue to the core so that the tongue may be tightly wrapped about the core with each edge confined in substantially one plane perpendicular to the core axis between the ends of the core so as to leave exterior portions of the core exposed between its ends and the said wrapped edges; and a sealing device, formed of web material into cylindrical shape, having a base portion secured to the area of the core member between the ends of the core and the edges of the tongue, and having a freeable portion adapted either to extend over the outside convolution of the wrapped tongue portion or to extend between the tongue and the core member.

4. An envelope comprising, in combination: a cylindrical core; a flexible tongue having one edge secured to said core and having two parallel edges adjoining the one edge; and sealing devices for covering each of the said adjoining edges after they have been wrapped around said core, each sealing device comprising a web having one surface coated with an adhesive and providing a base portion and a series of narrow strips extending from the base portion, the base portion contacting and being capable of adhesion to the end of the core and capable of disposing the strips to extend inwardly from the end of the core and of being confined between the core and the tongue in tubular array about the core, said strips being bendable adjacent the base portion between the core end and the said adjacent edges of the tongue and disposable to extend axially over the outside of the largest convolution of the wrapper.

5. An envelope comprising, in combination: a straight rigid core member, a tongue of sheet material having two straight parallel edges and one straight edge perpendicular to the parallel edges for permanent attachment to the core, the distance between the parallel edges being substantially less than the length of the core, and means permanently and fixedly securing the perpendicular edge of the tongue to the core with the ends of the one edge spaced from the tube ends and so that the tongue may be tightly Wrapped about the core with each of the parallel edges confined in substantially one plane perpendicular to the core axis between the ends of the core in such a position as to leave portions of the tube exposed between its ends and the edges of the wrapper; and a sealing device having a base portion surrounding the exposed ends of the tube having strips extending from the base portion for engagement with the tongue.

6. An envelope comprising, in combination: a straight rigid cylindrical core member having a continuously peripherally closed convex external surface, a tongue wrapper or single ply sheet material having two straight parallel edges and two straight edges extending between the parallel edges, means bonding the fiat surface area of the sheet material perpendicularly related to the parallel edges and adjoining one of the extending edges of the tongue against the convex surface of the core over a convex longitudinal area of the core parallel to the core axis against movement of the said sheet area along or peripherally of the core axis and with the ends of the secured area adjoining the core ends between the tube ends so that the tongue may be tightly wrapped about the core with each of the parallel edges confined in substantially one plane perpendicular to the core axis at the ends of the core so as to leave portions of the tube exposed at its ends adjoining the edges of the wrapper, and a sealing device having a base portion surrounding the exposed end of the tube having strips exten' from the base portion for engagement inside of or on ads of the tongue when the tongue has been wrapped about the core member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,100 Van Auden Dec. 18, 1860 245,644 Marks Aug. 16, 1881 585,386 Howe June 29, 1897 1,333,231 Ulrich Mar. 9, 1920 1,473,393 Albertoni Nov. 6, 1923 1,525,111 Wentz -t Feb. 3, 1925 1,551,027 Greve Aug. 25, 1925 1,886,842 Shaw Nov. 8, 1932 2,069,300 Carlson M Feb. 2, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 105,315 errnany Feb. 13, 1898 

